Johnnie Jackson’s side were dealt a big lesson at the One Call Stadium on Tuesday night as Mansfield Town ran out as 5-2 winners.
Despite the full-time scoreline it was the Dons who burst out the traps on the night, with Josh Davison scoring a well-taken brace as his blossoming partnership with Nathan Young-Coombes really started to click.
However, things changed very quickly from that point onwards as Mansfield got themselves back into the game through Rhys Oates’ penalty. As the pressure grew, Wimbledon’s composure began to waver and in the end it proved to be too much to deal with as the Stags equalised through George Lapslie’s header.
Just as it appeared that things couldn’t get any worse for our side, disaster struck, with Chris Gunter being shown a red card for a push on Stephen Quinn.
Goals from George Maris, Riley Harbottle and Will Swan then swept the Stags into the lead and it was a very difficult second-half for the Dons.
Wimbledon’s Achilles heel of giving away leads sadly struck again and now the task will be to bounce back on Saturday as we make the trip to Crawley Town.
Jackson made one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, with Young-Coombes' double blast on Saturday earning a start in place of Ethan Chislett.
There was a heavy downpour prior to kick-off, but the Dons were quickly into their stride on the rain-sodden pitch. And it didn’t take long for our side to hit the front in some style. Young-Coombes received the ball in space and knocked it in behind for Josh Davison, who raced clear and took one look up, before blasting the ball almost through Christy Pym in the Mansfield goal.
It was a blistering start from Wimbledon and there was no lack of flair too, stroking the ball around well with plenty of confidence. A second goal quickly followed.
The infectious Jack Currie seized on a loose ball in centre field before laying it out to Young-Coombes, as the striker peeled wide. He then picked out his strike partner Davison in the area, with the number nine bundling home a terrific diving header to double his tally.
The Dons were then quickly brought back down to earth just after the half-hour mark. The referee pointed to the penalty spot after Jack Currie was adjudged to have fouled his man. Oates then stepped up to send Nik Tzanev the wrong way.
Within an instant it was then almost two-a-piece. This time a low delivery came in from the right wing, with Oates somehow managing to clear the crossbar from barely a yard out, as Wimbledon looked to regain composure.
However, our side wouldn’t be let off so lightly the next time the hosts came forward as the Stags levelled the scores. Another delivery came in from the right with Lapslie being left unmarked to head home from close-range.
Things then went from bad to worse for the Dons as Gunter was shown a straight red card for pushing Quinn, who had struck the ball at the head of our Welsh full-back while he was on the floor. Quinn's actions were only deemed to be worthy of a yellow card.
Jackson introduced Isaac Ogundere at the start of the second-half in order to make up for the loss of Gunter as Young-Coombes was replaced, meaning that a back four was maintained with Currie moving into midfield.
It mattered little as Mansfield took the lead for the first time on the night. A low cross found its way to Maris who saw his effort deflected into the bottom left corner, leaving Tzanev with little chance.
It was becoming an even bigger mountain to climb for the Dons and soon enough the deficit was increased. This time a corner was swung in from the left hand side with Riley Harbottle rising highest to power home a header that all but finished the game as a contest.
Swan then added a fifth from close-range to compound our misery on a night to forget for Wimbledon.
AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Will Nightingale, Alex Pearce (Paul Kalambayi), Lee Brown, Chris Gunter, Jack Currie (David Fisher), George Marsh, Paris Maghoma, Nathan Young-Coombes (Isaac Ogundere), Ayoub Assal (Ethan Chislett), Josh Davison (Quaine Bartley)
PICS: Paul Thompson (Pro Sports Images)